Dear Damien,

Thanks for your replies. You sound frustrated but I think it is because you have to deal with the same issues over and over again. To illustrate, i will use the journals as an example.

I have emailed / sent feedback via the website about the journals. I have gotten responses which basically said they are looking into it for next year and they will let me know.

To me, that's a fob off. I understand that there are budget concerns and that you have to maximise the value of every dollar you guys have at your disposal. I think I am fairly reasonable.

However, your explanation in your post about the fact that they will charge you per member is information that may change my mind. I don't want a cardiothoracic physio subscribing to MT. I take it from the post that you may be able to get the musculoskeletal group to have their members subscribe, it might be worthwhile. I think so too.

My point is that useful information sometimes doesn't get passed on. Until I read your post, I thought they were tossing up whether or not to spend a couple of grand on an institutional subscription - which to me is not that much given how many people there are in MS physio.

I know that you try to get info out in various forms - email, magazine, etc. but it sometimes doesn't get through.

I am naive about what goes on at the APA a lot of the time and so the $1100 per year i put in sometimes makes me question if it is worth it. How do I measure the value of that money? I have yet to rejoin the ASPP since they haven't shown me the value of joining them. I went to a seminar, paid my $80. Told I would get information and notes on private practice in a few weeks following the seminar and now it has been months. Not good.

I know that the APA has put out brochures why we should keep joining (and i have rejoined for next year) but how do i get the most out of my membership???

Thank you also for the info about the contracts and competing. I do try to differentiate myself. I also find getting the patient to rave to their doctor about you is the best since the GP is more likely to remember that than a physio off the street touting their services.